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Quick stop at the top of Fischer Park 

A chilly late start for today's ride. Late meaning just after 7am and chilly = 55 of dee'sgree's. BUT? Someone wiser than me (if you can believe that) said,  "there's no bad weather, there's just bad preparation". Holding on to this bit of wisdom over the years, I was prepared. A long sleeved base layer, my cold weather cycling jacket,  and my fold back, mitten glove hybrid glove... gloves.  Still wearing bib shorts as it's not chilly enough for long legged cycling gear...yet. Now, the glove hybrid gloves. I bought these years ago while working armed security. They have a mitten end to cover all fingers but that mitten end folds back so a person could have greater dexterity when needed like being able to properly shoot a gun. But these days? So a person could properly take selfies and shift gears easier. After my alarm rang at 0545 I thought about skipping my ride and staying in bed and that's why I had the late start. I finally got up and out and on the road with thoughts of to climb or not to climb. I chose the latter and took a longer route to Puppy Playland then onto Landa Park then Gruene. Surprisingly enough,  I only saw 4  other cyclist in total and only one was decked out in complete cycling gear kinda like me but not asc stylish. I got that notion from his jealous look in my direction. Lots of friendly walkers and joggers were out taking advantage of the non humid day set before us. Everything was going good and then, everything was still going good. Yes it was one of those rides that you can just enjoy. Driving a around yesterday I spotted a couple of murals I hadn't seen before and I knew I wanted photos and that I'd make that part of today's route. Thor and The Red Hulk are painted on garage doors at a local Crossfit Workout Box so here's me taking a photo stop between SMASHING PEDALS & PUTTING THE HAMMER down. After the pics it was on to Landa Park. Just before the park I did a short PSA about lighting (see the link). In short, I use rear flashing lights day and night. I use a good solid front headlight at night and the same light flashing during the day. Ya just gotta make every effort to be seen on the road. After Landa it was on to Gruene then the 4 mile loop twice around Gruene and back home with a stop at FischerPark. With a steady 15mph north wind I had a really nice return to the house. Shower and breakfast then a few short naps before heading back out for pj shopping with my daughter...PJ'S for school🙄
For everyone my age, older and younger to about 45, be glad we grew up when we did. This Corona no lime virus has the world in a tizzy. I'm not saying this to say it's not a real thing, but reactions are all over the place with this one. Anyway Bikelist friends. I hope you got out and rode today. It was a great day for me. Be blessed and RIDE ON! 

https://youtu.be/b4AkiLUBtHY

Posing my horse at Fischer Park 

About to get started. 7am still dark. 

Resting the dogs after the ride

Specialty socks and great legs

Salado Greenway North Trail.

About a mile from the parking lot at the beginning of the trailhead.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vxOQnerWDM6

Last night I finally registered for the City Cruiser's 5th annual Community Cancer Awareness Ride. Because of the Carona no lime virus,  the ride is virtual, allowing every participant to do the ride on their own.

Today,  I picked up my bike from Bike City, got a quick bite of food, drove to McAllister Park to ride the Salado Creek trail towards Eisenhower Park and see how far it really goes to do my 25 miles. Well? I must say this. San Antonio has stepped up its cycling paths. I was able to ride 29.2ish miles round trip from McAllister to Eisenhower Park and back with the only car interaction being the crossing of two roads with one of the two crossings having no cars to wait for going or on the return. Everything else? Protected cycling paths, some of which were not even close to roads that I could see and basically were from Park to Park. AND? This doesn't even include the miles of bike paths going in the other directing from McAllister towards Tobin Park and beyond. Another cool thing along the path was emergency call stations, a trail guy riding the trails with a first aid kit, repair stations, and because they go from Park to Park there's a number of maintained bathrooms and water fountains if needed. The scenery was also really nice especially the canyon like dry creek beds outside of Walker Ranch Park and the canyon like path you'll ride on after going under 1604 towards Eisenhower Park. No complaints. Just a question why the gate is closed and locked before you get to Eisenhower? You can see the path continues but you can't go any further. The path has a speed limit of 15 but there were a few riders including me riding over the limit. Lots of walkers, and joggers share the path and there are a few corners and turns you'll have to pay attention or you may run into someone.

The riding temps today were barely above 70 and no feel of humidity in the air. With the wind out of the north about 12-18mph this was an enjoyable ride with a really nice wind assist after the turn around. My next San Antonio discovery will have to be the same path going the other direction out of McAllister. I also need to see what roads the path connects to that could be used for commuting.

Bike City, thanks once again for a great tune up and clean. BC is in a new location than I remember and although it's not the best location or the neatest appearance, the service is still great. With a groupon they seem to have available like all the time you can't beat a $45 major tune up, And? your bike comes back like it's off the showroom floor. Since it's been about 4 years since I've used their service, my ride today was partially to support my City Cruiser's  friends and to test ride their work. As always, after the ride feels great. My bike lost a squeak it had and everything feels smoother. I think I'll need to alcohol wipe my brakes but other than that A+ service. Now? To relax out my evening and just chill.

It's already been a great day.

Be blessed and RIDE ON! 

overlook bridge in Hardeberger Park

Baby posing on the overlook. You can't tell but it's about a 40' or so drop looking over. 

one of the emergency call boxes on the trail

Same call box different direction

Continuation of the trail but not sure why it's locked. I would have rode on. 🚳😒

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In my cycling formal wear at the almost empty Pumpkin Patch

And I almost stayed in bed.

My alarm went off on time and sleep was calling me much stronger than my bike at the early hours this morning. I turned off the alarm rolled over to go back to sleep knowing that pretty much, I was up. It was either go for the ride or lay in bed wide awake. One thought that rode/rolled (pun intended) through my mind was? I always feel better after the ride. So I got up got ready...stop. I broke the zipper on one of my favorite jerseys. First, it started coming apart from the bottom then after several tries to get it unzipped, the pull tab broke...🙄. Enough metal was left that I managed to get dressed, get my gear, and on the road. No issues on my new route, just a nice ride. Then? I got to a Landa Park to find it crowded with cars. It was the Wurst Tri Ever. No I'm not kidding. I saw all the bikes lined up in what appeared to be a transition station so my only thought was Triathlon. I wasn't registered and although I wish I'd known about it, the run isn't something I would enjoy. So? On my way to Gruene. Along my route today twice I passed runners. Now I must say this first. Not all runners have bad road sharing manners but many do just that. Badly share the road. On my Sunday route, I've passed the same 3 to 5 guys each week in Gruene. They run opposite traffic side by side and share a friendly good morning. I always give them right of way and ride just in the road as they run by. There hasn't been a morning yet that Traffic has been an issue for me to do that. Today while crossing the Faust St Bridge here comes 3 runners side by side and there's no where for me to give way except to ride a far right on the bridge as I could. When I'm cycling with others, I usually call out "single file" and for 10 whole seconds we can't ride side by side. Oh the Torture🙄. Typically when this happens the well mannered person or persons running opposite will say thanks or give a good morning. But today on the bridge? No acknowledgment that I was making an adjustment for them. What do I do? Continue to be me. Continue to be courteous, kind, friendly and giving and doing my best to keep my tongue. Besides,  my "bless your heart" thought really helps. I made my way to and through Gruene with a stop at the Methodist Church pumpkin patch just at sunrise. My legs were feeling the work of the previous days ride and taking it even easier than planned was my plan for the rest of the ride home. Got home, got showered, got the family and got to church to bless my heart and more. It's late in the day as I write this and it's been a great day. Be blessed and RIDE ON! 

Transition for the Wurst Tri Ever... REALLY. 

See,  I told you

Me and baby at the Pumpkin Patch near the John Deere. Almost sunrise

Look.  I'm driving the tractor

Home-Gruene-Seguin-McQueen

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Good morning my Bikelist peoples, pleasant greetings to to all. 10am and 45 miles are done. Yaaay! We're like the Army. We get more done before 10am than most people do all day😊

Well today was another nice cool morning and although I believe the weather app said 70 something, there was a 65 feel in the air with cooler pockets of air in spots as I rode. I accomplished a new route today going up Walnut Rd to loop 337. From Landa St to the loop is a steady climb but I made it. But? Not without the a55h01e of the day. It's not even 7am and there's no shoulder on that road but there are 2 lanes in both directions. At that dark time of the morning very few cars passed in either direction then? This car buzzed right beside me enough for me to yell out and as it passed it was still going into the right lane before finally correcting back into the left lane, Leavin me to believe it was intentional.

Oddly enough at the top of the hill there was a police office stopped at the red light and I got yelled at... in reality, he yelled out a compliment. I have a rear flashing light on my helmet and two more below my butt. One on the seat post and another clipped to my saddle bag all flashing different patterns and a bright head light.  I hear him yell out

"Hey I really like those lights" and I responded with a loud

Thank you sir.

With this in mind, I feel that buzzed by car had to see me. There's just to much flashing going on not to. Also, there's this. Don't get on your bike and do stupid or careless and blame mishaps on bad car drivers. Our funky flashy clothing (kits) stand out. Our lights, stand out. People will see and pay more attention to flashing lights then they will a steady on light. To a car driver, going 35 or more mph,  a steady light may appear as a fixed object since we're typically going much slower and may not get a second glance. A flashing light usually gets the 2nd glance. At the very least some people may have that "oh crap a cop" reaction and slow down. I do have a steady on head light at night but it to goes to flashing during daylight hours.  Anyway, I passed by my kids high school (GO UNICORNS!) then made my way to Gruene.  From there it was coffee at "On The Grind". My KK (Kora Kora) coffee shop doesn't open that early so I went to OTG. They make a good cup-a-joe but since it's a Kiosk only, there's no place to sit. So with coffee in hand I coasted to the Shell station next door, stood on the side and enjoyed my coffee. After that I found that FM306 ends at another road with a bike lane then about a mile and I was on Hwy46 to Seguine. I rode through Seguin only stopping to take a photo at the Alma Mater of my oldest,  Claudia and to check my maps as I passed my turn before reaching the university 🤷‍♂️🙄

I made the command decision to not turn around and take the intended road but to keep going straight until 46 crossed FM725 which will lead back to Klein Road to Walnut and home. This decision was ok but not without its faults. Texas could take example from 46 in Seguin on how to make ALL ROADS. It was soo buttery smooth I had the false expectation that the rest of the roads would be like that one or near the smoothness of that road...🤔 NOPE! Smooth to rough to smooth to rough and back and forth. I finally see a New Braunfels 11 Miles sign and felt "finally" knowing I had another 11 miles or more in me. 725 was that rough to not so rough road that I don't enjoy but it was necessary and one after another rolling hills which I actually liked. The scenery was nice with farms and other hilltops in the distance but the road, not so nice. One hopefully good photo I got was a guy's shop doing chainsaw sculptures from logs and I just happened to stop as he was getting ready to work on a log. Finally I saw the sign for Klein Road and from there I knew I had about a mile to 1.5 miles to the house. Klein was possibly the worst road of the day but also one of the shortest so no problem. From there, back on Walnut and home. Once again I'll say two things.

1. With everything you've read understand this. I still enjoyed this ride. What seems like bad rides actually make the most memories and it feels better to have ridden than to have stayed in bed.

2. Cars, be kind to cyclist. Many of our flat tires are ones we got so you wouldn't have to. "SHARE THE ROAD"

It's already a great day folks. Be blessed and RIDE ON! 

On The Grind, coffee stop for the day. 

Not the most glam place to enjoy my coffee but it works. 

One day I'll have to try the gas station coffee

Not gorillas but cows in the mist. Light ground fog this morning

The sun was coming up just across the street from the cows with the ground fog present

My quick photo stop at Claudia's Alma Mater TLU

TLU Soccer field. Go Bulldogs! 

Chainsaw sculpture in Lake McQueeny 

NB-GR 31

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Many years ago I would get up and check the weather for wind speed, direction and temp. Living in Corpus Christi back then I still loved cycling but changed my main outlet to windsurfing and sailing. Today? I get up and check the weather for  rain, wind speed and direction and temp. Now I need to know what to wear and what directing to start my rides so I can pretty much finish with the wind at my back assisting me home. This isn't always perfect as I haven't found a South bound route I really enjoy so? North bound it was. This time of year thats good because of light winds from the north or northwest. Only 75 degrees to start today but very present humidity making for a sweaty ride. By the time I got to Gruene I needed to stop just to take care of the drip drip drip off sweaty on my glasses and face shield. Usually has stations have paper towel available at the self serve pumps to clean your windows so I grab a couple to wipe my glasses and face shield them line my helmet at my forehead with the paper towels. But? If you ride long enough those will not be able to hold all the man made head liquid you produce and will need to be wrung out again. Enough about sweat.

I set out for a nice casual ride and that's what I got. An easy pace to Landa Park, over the Faust Street Bridge and onto Gruene. 2.5 loops around Gruene then back home. I made a coffee stop in Gruene but with no trash cans in sight I jersey pocketed the empty cup and threw it away at my bathroom stop heading back through Landa Park. Only one guy beeped at me today but it was a verified friendly beep. I turned the corner out of Gruene and there was the truck on the side of the road and the driver taking things out yelling "Ride on Brother" as I passed by. Kora Kora for coffee has proven to be a nice stop and at the time of morning I stop there, barely anyone around so there's plenty of seating at the outdoor tables just outside the coffee shop. In Landa Park today I found something I didn't know was there. They have a Time Capsule that was sealed in 1986 to be opened in 2036. I should make my plans now to be there for the opening. I appreciate the overcast clouds holding back the heat that could have easily been present with full sun and? A kudos to me for kicking laziness in the butt and getting off my a55 and getting out. As usual I always feel better after a ride.

Car drivers remember. "If you see a cyclist on the road be kind and courteous. If you see us on the side of the road in distress, we probably took a nail that could have been in your tire"

It's already a good day my people.

Be blessed and RIDE ON!

My baby in front of the time Capsule

Another view in front of the time Capsule

Chilling on the fishing pier

My new favorite Live Oak tree with baby in front of the time Capsule

That tree is big enough that it has built up supports

A cracked tree support

Kora Kora Coffee stop

Enjoying my coffee and my mid ride break. 

My favorite RedOak atop Fischer Park 

Someone glad to see me back after the ride

#GCNCC

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Baby's first pumkin patch

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59 degrees and I'm glad I bought a few base layer shirts for myself. Base layer=Thin to thick insulated undershirts. In my case they're  thinly insulated, fit well and just what I needed for a crisp morning. Nothing new except a left turn to the dog park on Landa St and a little turn through Landa Park. The dog park was empty as should be expected before sunrise but Landa Park? Also empty except for me and one other bike rider and a few people walking.  No one on the bridge today on Faust St and during my loop around Gruene I stopped at the Methodist church to take baby's photo at the pumpkin patch. Making my second entry into Gruene I took the side street through the shops at the village to take a quick video. It's a very inviting place and I'm seeing the same faces week after week and getting plenty of waves and good mornings. I made my way back the way I came today and back to the Faust St Bridge. I'm not sure but I think I scared a lady enjoying the bridge. She was about at the center of the bridge doing exactly what usually do. Taking photos and video. My bicycle head light was on flashing mode and as I approached I could see concern on her face and she started to walk away quickly. Not to be deterred I stopped, took my photos, and enjoyed the view. Then she stayed walking back towards me keeping an eye on me but still exchanged good mornings. It seemed obvious she needed to exit the bridge the way I entered but didn't want to walk past me. Oh well? I'm pretty safe people. Don't believe the rumors.

A few photos a video and on my way. Paint through downtown I noticed the courthouse fountain was on again...Yaaay! Little things excite me. A photo or two there then on my way home to get ready for church.

This is one of those cycling mornings I could just pick a long road and go and just see where it leads. Make enough right or left turns until I'm home again. No plan except to enjoy the ride and see what sights there are to see. Clear skies, low to no humidity and lower temps. It's already a great day folks. Be blessed and RIDE ON!

Gruene Lake Village Shops

New Braunfels City Hall Fountain

Faust Street Bridge with the sun just behind the trees

looking down the length of the bridge